Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attends the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg. Photo: Egyptian Cabinet
The two-day gathering, held under the theme Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, brings together the world’s major economies at a moment of growing financial strain across the Global South, from mounting debt to worsening climate shocks.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty is accompanying the prime minister.
South Africa, which holds this year’s rotating presidency, has signalled its intention to use the summit to elevate African priorities, including food security, climate finance, and reforms to global lending institutions. The African Union (AU), admitted as a permanent G20 member in 2023, is participating alongside the European Union and 19 member states.
Egypt emphasizes reform of global finance
Madbouly attended a working dinner hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday for African leaders participating in the summit. According to officials familiar with the discussions, Egypt used the meeting to underscore what it sees as widening inequities in the global financial system.
Cairo has long argued that developing countries face rising borrowing costs, limited access to climate finance, and tightening conditions imposed by international lenders, challenges that have intensified amid global economic volatility.
Madbouly said the G20 should be a forum for “real solutions” to the debt crisis and structural barriers to growth, while improving developing countries’ access to financing for climate adaptation and infrastructure.
He also noted Egypt’s unusual role this year: although attending as a guest country, Cairo was invited to host one of the group’s official meetings, a first for any non-member participant.
Africa’s agenda in focus
Talks among African leaders ahead of the summit focused on aligning positions on food insecurity, debt relief, and industrialisation, issues where the continent has pushed for faster action and greater global coordination.
South Africa has highlighted several achievements during its presidency, including efforts to strengthen the AU’s role within the bloc and advance joint African positions on climate and trade.
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